We’ve written about the elusive Chevrolet Celebrity Eurosport VR sparingly because they come up for sale so infrequently. There’s been one car lingering out there for quite some time with an extremely optimistic listing price, but this recent barn find discovery may be worth a look if you’re OK with a project. Said to have been a former “show car” for demonstrating the new VR trim line, this example was originally black and has been repainted red, all while staying in one family ownership. Find it here on eBay with a $1K opening bid and no reserve.
The VR certainly had killer looks (my opinion) but a giant killer it was not. While the goal of the Eurosport VR was to turn consumers on to a sexy Celebrity (those are two words that rarely go together) as an alternative to a Taurus SHO or hotted-up 5-Series or E-Class, it fell well short of dissuading import shoppers away from their chosen showrooms. The motor remained unchanged, with your standard garden variety 2.8L V6 up front and a hefty price tag increase for what amounted to a body kit, special wheels and uniquely trimmed interior.
I suppose the reason the VR has escaped total damnation by enthusiasts is because it’s so rare and partially due to the attraction of taking a completely mundane sedan and giving it an extremely aggressive factory bodykit. The kit itself, to my eyes, was well-executed, even if the smooth nose turned some folks away. This car was originally black, but one of the caretakers in the seller’s family had it repainted red – and quite extensively, considering the door jambs are done as well. According to the seller, this particular VR was “borrowed” from a local dealer to be used as an official demonstrator for Chevrolet. An interesting tidbit, but some evidence of this should be provided to potential buyers.
The interior was quite eye-catching, with specially-trimmed seats front and rear and fire-engine red carpeting. The seller provides a somewhat confusing ownership trail, but it seems the VR went from him to “…his son’s grandfather,” and then the grandson found it sitting inside a pole barn where it had been laid up for years. There is rust in the door skins but “…not the inside of the doors.” Mechanically, it’s said to have a blown headgasket which seems like a golden opportunity to swap in a more meaty Quad 4. Armchair engineers, can that swap be done? In the meantime, the opening bid seems reasonable for such a rare car desperately in need of a new heart.
It kind of looks like a Volvo from the front.
That was GM’s sales strategy. They hoped you wouldn’t notice until you had signed the papers.
Reminds me of the VL-24 package when I bought my Cavalier in 1992. Nothing but an extra plastic, added weight and a few thousand more to the sticker. They really pushed those models.
You could swap in a 3.4 DOHC a lot more easily for more power (201 in base trim).
Except they are a nightmare to work on.
When I read former show car, my first thought was The Gong Show!
The front end looks a bit like the Oldsmobile Trofeo.
Looks like a econo box of ugly!
Keep it hidden please
I am not sure why the fact that it was used to show the trim level would make this car more valuable especially since it has been repainted.
They just take one off the assembly line, or from stock, and use it. There is nothing special about this.
This was a trim level shown in the brochure for that year, so what is special about this particular car?
Usually in cases like this the car in question would get stiffer shocks, anti-sway bars and other suspension upgrades as well as a differently tuned engine to increase output. Most of the cars from this era would also get a fat set of Goodyear Eagle GT tyres to balance it all out, and overall the vehicle would have a firmer ride that the base garden variety models.
My buddies mom had one of these but newer, I think it was a 92. Comfy car, but ate head gaskets like potato chips and a nightmare to work on. Not sure why anyone would want to collect these. It’s still a GM product from “that” era.
I don’t know if “collect” would be the right word, but I certainly wish someone would preserve this unicorn. Not me. But somebody.
They come up for sale infrequently because most of them fell apart within two years of purchase.
Just another reason why GM was going down in those days. There is nothing exciting about this
3800sc Buick….
I seem to remember power steering racks galore going bad on the 80’s GM. If Mr Cunningham were alive in the 80’s he would drive one of these. I can’t imagine going to a car show with my yet to be born grandchildren and looking at one of these fondly….but I guess it’s just like Mr Cunningham’s Desoto…that I look at fondly.
How rare are these eurosport VR cars? I can’t find any production numbers.
I had one. Silk purse out of a sows ear sound familiar?
I had 3 of them when I lived in Flordia.The 1st one was a black station wagon.On my days off I would fold the rear seat down and throw my surf poles in and head for beach for a days worth of fishing. After I sold it I bought 2 more while I lived in Flordia. I always made sure they had the 2.8 motors in them the 4 cylinders weren’t worth a hoot. Never had much problems with them .The last one I sold when I moved to East T.N. I had 2 people fighting over when I went to sell it. .If I could find another station wagon like that I would snatch it up in a heart beat. Thanks. Bruce.
Man, another auction where the price went down!
Sold for $750, Buy It Now.
Once again I’ll be the odd man out. I’m not a fan of front wheel drive cars. I know they have their place and perform many tasks well. I’m a die hard rear wheel drive person. That being said, I have always liked this model. Yes 80s poor quality and all that stuff. I don’t care in certain cases and this is one of those cases. Have driven (Company car. Got to choose within certain limits.) several of these and really liked them. Especially the trim, etc on the Eurosport. The 2.8 Chevy V6 was okay, nothing to write home about but okay-ish. This is the perfect one for a much needed 3.1 or 3.4 or a Buick 3800. Love it, don’t care that most other people don’t. Case closed. Lol
I would definitely buy it… I always wanted one
I have an 88 that’s been sitting for a long time and need work for sure. If anyone is interested, please let me know.